Ladle



Aug. 31, 1943.`

H. FREEMAN LADLE Filed May 18, 1942 lllllllll INVENTOR. H. G. FR EEMA N ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 31, 1943 l p nemo. Freeman, Granite city, m.` i i Appucauq'nray 1s, 1942, serial No. 443,361

invention relates `to ladies,` and more particularly to ladies` for conveying molten metal from one location to another in a foundry or the i like. r

A ladle of this type is usuauy `provided with [an outlet nozzle in the bottom thereof and a stopof molten metal per` for controlling the ow through the nozzle. ,Y

In many opera-tions the` molten metal is retained inthe ladle forrelatively long periods of time. For examplein the treatment-of certain types of `,metals, the` molten metal `may remain in the ladle for twenty to forty minutes.. Under such conditions, it has been found that the molten metall around the stopper frequently congeals ,or freezes, thereby preventing movement of the stopper at the outlet nozzle. Y

Wheneverthe molten metalV congeals around the stopper, it.is `diidcuit, if not impossible, to

`remove the stopperfrom the nozzle without dumping the contents of the ladle. Frequently, inthe efforts to free `the stopper from thenozzle the operating mechanism for the stopper ismbroken,requlring.relatively costly repairs. 1

` Moreover, whenever a stopper is forcibly pulled away from` congealed metal, this metal aroundi the nozzle and on the stopper, tends to prevent l effective closing ofthe stopper, thereby permitting the highly heated molten metal to continue to flow from the nozzle. This `undesirable ow of molten metal not only results in waste, but is a source of serious danger to workmen adjacent to the ladle. It has long been a problem in this art to prevent the freezing of molten metal at the outlet nozzle of a ladle, especially when `molten metal is retained in the ladle for a relatively long period of time. In view of the loss of time, expense, and hazards resulting from the freezing at, the stopper, those skilled in the art have long sought a solution to this old problem, but in so far asI am aware the prior efforts have `failed to produce a satisfactory answer tothe problem.

An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a simple and eective means for inhibiting the solidiilcation of molten metal at a stopper for controlling thek discharge of said metal from the ladle. I v

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. However. it is to be understood that the invention extends to modifications and variaclaims hereuntofappended.`

`plurality of refractory brick sleeves I2.

2 Claims. (Cl. 22,-84) i tions withinthe scopeof terms employed inthe Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a ladle for molten metal equipped with a simple form of the means to prevent or inhibit freezing of the molten metal at the discharge nozzle. I

Fig. 2 is a detail shown in Fig.` l.

Fig. 3 i`s a transverse section through the discharge nozzle, showing the baille therein.

The ladle shown in the drawingA comprises an outer metal shell 4, and a refractory brick lining 5 having a coating of refractory clay 6 on its i view of the` inhibiting baille `inner face. `As shown in Fig. 1 the ladle is open atthe top toreceive moltenymetal, such as steel. The bottom of the ladle is provided with an annular nozzle `I for the discharge of molten metal fromthe ladle. i

`The nozzle l, which is preferably made ofA a refractory material, isliocated in `an opening extending through the brick lining 5 and outer shell 4, as shown in Fig. 1I` "I'he lower portion ofthe nozzle 1` projects beyond the shell 4 and is providedwith a shoulder-8 seated on a plate `9.

This plate` 9 is vsecured to the bottom of the shell `4 ;to prevent downward displacement of the nozzie.

As an illustration of a means for controlling the discharge of molten metal through the nozzle l, I have shown a stopper including a head I0 movable into and out of engagement with a beveled seat at the inlet, portion of the nozzle 1.

The stopper head IIJ may be made of refractorymaterial, such as graphite. This head I0 is secured to the lower end of a metal rod II which extends 'upwardly through the open top of the ladle. To protect the rod II from the intense heat of the molten metal, the portion of the rod located in the ladle is surrounded by a The upper portion of the rod II is threaded to receive a nut I3 which secures the sleeves I2 on the rod.

I will now refer to the operating means for moving the stopper head I0 into and out of engagement with the beveled seat at the inlet of the nozzle l. A bar I4 is slidably mounted in` guides I5, I6 and I1 which areisecured to the outer face of the shell 4. The upper portion of the bar I4 extends laterally over the ladle, and is secured to the r-od II by means of nuts I8. It will be understood that by imparting an upward motion to the bar I4, the refractory head I0 will be raised oi its seat` to permit the discharge of molten metal from the ladle. Thereafter, a 

